Tag Archives: food

Brazil has a population today of about 204,000,000, and ranks 6th largest country in the world with a total land area of about 3,287,357 sq mi, slightly smaller than the United States at 3,794,100 sq mi. There were about 2.4 million native Amerindians inhabiting Brazil for over 15,000 – 20,00 years, before the Portuguese colonized the new world country after 1530. The primary spoken language today is Portuguese. This country is so large, you can spend a few years exploring it. I only had a taste of it for a few weeks, and would like to come back for more in the future. There is so much more to Brazil than just the main cities and attractions. Brazil is one of the most beautiful countries i’ve ever seen.

Brazilian Cuisine

My experience with Brazilian food was amazing, but vastly different in various parts of the country. A common Brazilian breakfast will include cold meats, cheese, coffee, tea, bread, and fresh juice. Snacks vary from Pastels, Empadas, Croquettes, to all kinds of cakes your sweet-tooth can imagine. Brazil is often recognized for their Churrascaria, “barbecue,” but this country has everything!

Brazilian Cuisine

I made a few new friends and was able to join them for a few cooking sessions together in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. I found the produce to be quite fresh, and affordable. The quality of meat was outstanding for the price.

Brazilian Tapioca

In Rio making Contra Filet every day! (“Sirloin Steak”)

Flora from Argentina

Juli from Berlin making savory and sweet Tapioca

Kuang from Australia, and Manny from London. It was awesome joining you in the kitchen!

São Paulo

São Paulo is Brazil’s most populated city and largest proper in the Americas. The metropolitain region is home to 19.9 million people, but with the greater extended metropolitain complex it totals around 31 million people today, ranking the 9th largest city in the world. Brazil has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan with around 1.5 million people of Japanese descent. Little Japan is located in the town of Liberdade, São Paulo.

Portuguese pavement covering the streets of Brazil, which consists of small flat pieces of stone arranged in a patterns, like a mosaic.

Liberdade

Paulista Avenue

Christianity and Catholism are also the most widely practiced religions in South America. There definitely isn’t a shortage of cathedrals, and churches to visit boasting beautiful architecture. São Paulo also has a major park called Ibirapuera and is often compared with New York City’s Central Park. It has a bicycle/running track that passes through and around the lakes of the park. You often seen the use of longboards by locals who will practice riding downhill, and simulating the exercise motions of surfing.

Ibirapuera Park

Ibirapuera Park

Ibirapuera Park

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is known for it’s beach city, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and of course the liberal display of swimsuits littered across the coastline. The sunrise, and sunsets are vastly different each day from various parts the city, and the piscturesque silhouettes of the mountains creates jaw dropping views.

This photo above is a sunrise view from a passifed favela called Vidigal, which overlooks Ipanema beach in the south Rio zone between Leblon and neighborhoods. It is also at the base of “Morro Dois Irmãos” (” Two Brothers Hill”) This was “home” during my stay in Rio de Janeiro. Thank you Eduardo for letting me stay in your home. You are an incredible host, and chef! I would highly recommend staying in Favela do Vidigal with Eduardo if you’re visiting Rio. Just let me know, and i’ll put you in contact with him by referral.

Rio de Janeiro will be home to the 2016 Summer Olympics August 5 -21

Been waiting a long time to buy my official first pair of Havaianas in Brazil

Rio De Janeiro Beaches

Paraty

In the Tupi language “Paraty” translates to “River of Fish.” A historical colonial town located on the Costa Verde, about 125 miles south of Rio de Janeiro. I absolutely fell in love with this quaint costal town lined with cobblestone streets, and brightly colored windows, door frames, and terracotta roof tiles. A short bus ride away from Sao Paulo and Rio, is a popular getaway weekend for many local Brazilians, and tourists today. Take one of the many boat rides out to the various beaches, and islands. A jeep tour into the forest, bicycle, or hiking, and experience the natural water features, and rock slides.

Foz do Iguacu

Iguazu Falls is one of the seven wonders of the world extending almost 2 miles with an estimated 275 water falls, converging the Iguazu river and San Antonio river between Argentina and Brazil. It is also a triple frontier where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet.

This video was actually taken from the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls. I recommend visiting both sides for different perspective, and experience of this magnificant place.

Parque das Aves

Itaipu Dam

One of the largest hydroelectric dam’s in the world producing a capacity load of 14MW of electricity used by Paraguay and Brazil . It can produce 6 times the amount of energy of Hoover Dam, and is 65 stories tall. Brazil is the largest consumer of electricity produced.